Berberine ameliorates renal injury in a rat model of D-galactose-induced aging through a PTEN/Akt-dependent mechanism

Berberine attenuates brain aging via stabilizing redox homeostasis and inflammation in an accelerated senescence model of Wistar rats

Aging is a multifaceted and progressive physiological change of the organism categorized by the accumulation of deteriorating processes, which ultimately compromise the biological functions. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-aging potential of berberine (BBR) in D-galactose (D-Gal) induced aging in rat models. In this study, male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: The control group was given only vehicle, the BBR group was treated with berberine orally, the D-Gal group was treated with D-galactose subcutaneously and the BBR + D-Gal group was treated with D-galactose and berberine simultaneously. D-galactose exposure elevated the pro-oxidants such as malondialdehyde (MDA) level, protein carbonyl and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in the brain. It decreased the anti-oxidants such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) in the brain. D-galactose treatment also reduced the mitochondrial complexes (I, II, III and IV) activities and elevated the inflammatory markers such as interleukine-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The mRNA expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α in the brain were upregulated following D-galactose exposure. Berberine co-treatment in D-galactose induced aging rat model prevented the alteration of pro-oxidant and anti-oxidant in the brain. Berberine treatment restored the mitochondrial complex activities in the brain and also normalized the inflammatory markers. Based on these findings we conclude that berberine treatment has the potential to mitigate brain aging in rats via stabilizing the redox equilibrium and neuroinflammation.

Berberine alleviates chlorpyrifos-induced nephrotoxicity in rats via modulation of Nrf2/HO-1 axis

Chlorpyrifos (CPS), an organophosphorus insecticide, is widely used for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes with hazardous health effects. Berberine (BBR) is a traditional Chinese medicine and a phytochemical with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. The present study evaluated the effects of BBR against kidney damage induced by CPS and the underlying mechanisms. An initial study indicated that BBR 50 mg/kg was optimal under our experimental conditions. Then, 24 rats (6/group) were randomized into: control, BBR (50 mg/kg/day), CPS (10 mg/kg/day), and CPS + BBR. BBR was administration 1 h prior to CPS. Each treatment was delivered daily for a period of 28 consecutive days using a gastric gavage tube. Compared to CPS-alone treated rats, BBR effectively improved renal function by preventing the rise in serum urea, creatinine, and uric levels. The reno-protective effects of BBR were confirmed through a histological examination of kidney tissues. BBR restored oxidant-antioxidant balance in renal tissues mediated by Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 axis modulation. In addition, BBR decreased nitric oxide (NO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. This was paralleled with the potent down-regulation of NF-κB. Furthermore, BBR exhibited anti-apoptotic activities supported by the upregulation of Bcl-2 and down-regulation of Bax and caspase-3 expression. In conclusion, our data suggest that BBR attenuates CPS-induced nephrotoxicity in rats by restoring oxidant-antioxidant balance and inhibiting inflammatory response and apoptosis in renal tissue. This is mediated, at least partly, by modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 axis.

Berberine: Pharmacological Features in Health, Disease and Aging

BACKGROUND

Berberine is the main active compound of different herbs and is defined as an isoquinoline quaternary botanical alkaloid found in barks and roots of numerous plants. It exhibits a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects. Berberine has antibacterial activity against a variety of microbiota, including many bacterial species, protozoa, plasmodia, fungi, and trypanosomes.

OBJECTIVE

This review describes the role of berberine and its metabolic effects. It also discusses how it plays a role in glucose metabolism, fat metabolism, weight loss, how it modulates the gut microbiota, and what are its antimicrobial properties along with its potential side effects with maximal tolerable dosage.

METHODS

Representative studies were considered and analyzed from different scientific databases, including PubMed and Web of Science, for the years 1982-2022.

RESULTS

Literature analysis shows that berberine affects many biochemical and pharmacological pathways that theoretically yield a positive effect on health and disease. Berberine exhibits neuroprotective properties in various neurodegenerative and neuropsychological ailments. Despite its low bioavailability after oral administration, berberine is a promising tool for several disorders. A possible hypothesis would be the modulation of the gut microbiome. While the evidence concerning the aging process in humans is more limited, preliminary studies have shown positive effects in several models.

CONCLUSION

Berberine could serve as a potential candidate for the treatment of several diseases. Previous literature has provided a basis for scientists to establish clinical trials in humans. However, for obesity, the evidence appears to be sufficient for hands-on use.

Berberine may provide redox homeostasis during aging in rats

Aging is a natural phenomenon, which is characterised by progressive physiological changes at cellular and organ level. During aging, the defence mechanism of an organism declines over the period of time. The aim of this study was to investigate the biological efficacy of berberine in D-galactose induced aging rat models. For the study, rats were divided into four groups: Control received only vehicle, BBR received berberine orally, D-Gal received D-galactose subcutaneously and BBR + D-Gal received D-galactose and berberine simultaneously. D-galactose treatment increased the pro-oxidants such as malondialdehyde (MDA) level, protein carbonyl, plasma membrane redox system (PMRS) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in the erythrocytes or plasma. It reduced the anti-oxidant level such as reduced glutathione (GSH), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), plasma thiols, sialic acid and membrane transporters like Na+/K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase activity in the erythrocyte membrane. Co-treatment of berberine in D-galactose induced aging rat models restored pro-oxidants and anti-oxidants in erythrocytes. Berberine also restored the activity of Na+/K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase in the erythrocyte membrane. On the basis of these findings, we suggest that berberine treatment could attenuate erythrocyte aging in rats through stabilisation of the redox equilibrium.

Antiaging effects of dietary supplements and natural products

Aging is an inevitable process influenced by genetics, lifestyles, and environments. With the rapid social and economic development in recent decades, the proportion of the elderly has increased rapidly worldwide, and many aging-related diseases have shown an upward trend, including nervous system diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, and cancer. The rising burden of aging-related diseases has become an urgent global health challenge and requires immediate attention and solutions. Natural products have been used for a long time to treat various human diseases. The primary cellular pathways that mediate the longevity-extending effects of natural products involve nutrient-sensing pathways. Among them, the sirtuin, AMP-activated protein kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin, p53, and insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling pathways are most widely studied. Several studies have reviewed the effects of individual natural compounds on aging and aging-related diseases along with the underlying mechanisms. Natural products from food sources, such as polyphenols, saponins, alkaloids, and polysaccharides, are classified as antiaging compounds that promote health and prolong life via various mechanisms. In this article, we have reviewed several recently identified natural products with potential antiaging properties and have highlighted their cellular and molecular mechanisms. The discovery and use of dietary supplements and natural products that can prevent and treat multiple aging-related diseases in humans will be beneficial. Thus, this review provides theoretical background for existing dietary supplements and natural products as potential antiaging agents.

Advances of berberine against metabolic syndrome-associated kidney disease: Regarding effect and mechanism

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is drastically growing worldwide, resulting in MetS-associated kidney disease. According to traditional theories, preventing blood pressure, lipid, glycose, and obesity and improving insulin resistance (IR), a couple of medications are required for MetS. It not only lowers patients' compliance but also elevates adverse reactions. Accordingly, we attempted to seek answers from complementary and alternative medicine. Ultimately, berberine (BBR) was chosen due to its efficacy and safety on MetS through multi-pathways and multi-targets. The effects and mechanisms of BBR on obesity, IR, diabetic nephropathy, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperuricemia were elaborated. In addition, the overall properties of BBR and interventions for various kidney diseases were also collected. However, more clinical trials are expected to further identify the beneficial effects of BBR.

Protective effects of berberine on various kidney diseases: Emphasis on the promising effects and the underlined molecular mechanisms

Berberine (BBR) is a pentacyclic benzylisoquinoline alkaloid that can be found in diversity of medicinal plants. BBR has a wide range of pharmacological bioactivities, in addition when administrated orally, it has a broad safety margin. It has been used as an antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic drug in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Several scholars have found that BBR has promising renoprotective effects against different renal illnesses, including diabetic nephropathy, renal fibrosis, renal ischemia, renal aging, and renal stones. Also, it has renoprotective effects against nephrotoxicity induced by chemotherapy, heavy metal, aminoglycosides, NSAID, and others. These effects imply that BBR has an evolving therapeutic potential against acute renal failure and chronic renal diseases. Hence, we report herein the beneficial therapeutic renoprotective properties of BBR, as well as the highlighted molecular mechanism. In conclusion, the studies discussed throughout this review will afford a comprehensive overview about renoprotective effect of BBR and its therapeutic impact on different renal diseases.

L-theanine protects rat kidney from D-galactose-induced injury via inhibition of the AGEs/RAGE signaling pathway

As the irreversible products of the non-enzymatic reduction of sugars and the amino groups of proteins or peptides, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are metabolized and excreted via the kidneys. However, if AGEs are not metabolized, they are deposited in the kidneys and bind to AGE receptors (RAGE), which can induce various pathological changes, including oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation. This study used the D-galactose (DG)-induced rat model to explore the potential role and mechanism of L-theanine in inhibiting AGEs/RAGE-related signaling pathways in renal tissues. L-theanine increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) while downregulating the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and AGEs in renal tissues induced by DG (P < 0.05). By inhibiting the upregulation of RAGE protein expression attributed to AGEs accumulation (P < 0.05), L-theanine downregulated phosphorylated nuclear factor (p-NF-κB (p65)), Bax, and cleaved-caspase-3 expression and increased Bcl-2 protein expression (P < 0.05), thereby alleviating the oxidative stress damage and reducing the inflammation and cell injury induced by DG. In addition, the Congo red staining section of renal tissue also showed that the natural product L-theanine can protect against AGEs-induced renal damage in DG-induced rat model.

Adiponectin inhibits D‑gal‑induced cardiomyocyte senescence via AdipoR1/APPL1

The aim of the present study was to examine whether adiponectin could inhibit cardiomyocyte senescence induced by D-galactose (D-gal), and whether it functioned via the adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1)/adaptor protein phosphotyrosine interacting with PH domain and leucine zipper 1 (APPL1) signaling pathway. For this purpose, the expression levels of adiponectin, AdipoR1 and APPL1 in mouse plasma and myocardial tissues were detected via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. An adiponectin-overexpression plasmid was transfected into D-gal-treated H9c2 cells prior to the detection of AdipoR1 and APPL1 expression by RT-qPCR. Senescence-associated β-galactose staining was then performed to observe cellular senescence following the transfection of small interfering RNAs (si) targeting AdipoR1 and APPL1 into D-gal-treated H9c2 cells overexpressing adiponectin. Commercial kits were used to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the different groups. The expression levels of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) were examined by western blot analysis. The results revealed that the expression levels of adiponectin, AdipoR1 and APPL1 were downregulated in aged mouse plasma, myocardial tissues and D-gal-treated cardiomyocytes. It was also observed that AdipoR1 and APPL1 expression levels were significantly upregulated following the overexpression of adiponectin into D-gal-treated cardiomyocytes. Moreover, adiponectin overexpression reduced cellular senescence induced by D-gal and the expression of p16 and p21; these effects were reversed following transfection with si-AdipoR1 and si-APPL1. Adiponectin also downregulated the levels of ROS and MDA in D-gal-treated H9c2 cells via AdipoR1/APPL1. Additionally, the release of HO-11/HMGB1 was affected by adiponectin via AdipoR1/APPL1, and adiponectin/AdipoR1/APPL1 suppressed ROS production via HO-1/HMGB1. On the whole, the present study demonstrated that adiponectin played an inhibitory role in cardiomyocyte senescence via the AdioR1/APPL1 signaling pathway and inhibited the levels of oxidative stress in senescent cardiomyocytes via the HO-1/HMGB1 signaling pathway.

Quercetin Attenuates Pancreatic and Renal D-Galactose-Induced Aging-Related Oxidative Alterations in Rats

Aging is an oxidative stress-associated process that progresses with age. Our aim is to delay or attenuate these oxidative alterations and to keep individuals healthy as they age using natural compounds supplementation. Therefore, we conducted the present study to investigate the protective potentials of quercetin against D-galactose (D-gal)-associated oxidative alterations that were induced experimentally in male Wistar rats. Forty-five rats were randomly allocated into five groups of nine rats each. The groups were a control group that was reared on a basal diet and injected subcutaneously with 120 mg D-gal dissolved in physiological saline solution (0.9% NaCl) per kg body weight daily and quercetin-treated groups that received the same basal diet and subcutaneous daily D-gal injections were supplemented orally with 25, 50, and 100 mg of quercetin per kg body weight for 42 days. Pancreatic and renal samples were subjected to histopathological, immunohistochemical, and relative mRNA expression assessments. Aging (p53, p21, IL-6, and IL-8), apoptotic (Bax, CASP-3, and caspase-3 protein), proliferative (Ki67 protein), antiapoptotic (Bcl2 and Bcl2 protein), inflammatory (NF-κB, IL-1β, and TNF-α), antioxidant (SOD1), and functional markers (GCLC and GCLM genes and insulin, glucagon, and podocin proteins) were determined to evaluate the oxidative alterations induced by D-gal and the protective role of quercetin. D-gal caused oxidative alterations of the pancreas and kidneys observed via upregulations of aging, apoptotic, and inflammatory markers and downregulated the antiapoptotic, proliferative, antioxidant, and functional markers. Quercetin potentially attenuated these aging-related oxidative alterations in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we can conclude that quercetin supplementation is considered as a promising natural protective compound that could be used to delay the aging process and to maintain human health.

PTEN loss regulates alveolar epithelial cell senescence in pulmonary fibrosis depending on Akt activation

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an aging-associated disease with poor prognosis. The mechanisms underlying the role of alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) senescence in IPF remain poorly understood. We aimed to investigate if PTEN/Akt activates AEC senescence to induce pulmonary fibrosis. We investigated the association between PTEN/Akt and cellular senescence in lung tissues from IPF patients. As a result, decreased PTEN and activated Akt pathway were found in AECs in fibrotic lung tissues detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF). Increased expression levels of aging-associated markers (P21^WAF1 and SA-β-gal) in AECs treated with bleomycin were found. AEC senescence was accelerated by PTEN knockdown and attenuated by PTEN overexpression. Bleomycin induced AEC senescence was reversed by Akt2 knockdown and the pharmacological inhibitors (LY294002 and MK2206) of the Akt pathway. Reducing Akt activation dramatically improved lung fibrosis in a fibrotic mice model. In addition, a co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assay demonstrated that PTEN physically associated with Akt. These indicated that senescent AECs modulated by the PTEN/Akt pathway promote lung fibrosis. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that as a trigger indicator in IPF, the senescence process in AECs should be a potential therapeutic target and that the PTEN/Akt pathway may be a promising candidate for intervention.